Target apparatus



May 14, 1963 M. P. woLvERToN ETAL 3,089,703

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THE/A ATM/PNE! Patented May 14, 1963 ice sheaves rnnenr APPARATUS Mar-cine 1. Wolverton and Henry S. Ross, both of 10136 Pacific, Franklin Paris, ill. Filed Aug. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 130,565 3 Claims. (Cl. 273 105.2)

Our invention relates to a target apparatus especially designed, though not limited, to the use in amusement game apparatuses, shooting or target arcades and other places of amusement.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for erratically moving a target element so as to require greater skill and accuracy in aim upon the part of the marksman and to increase the degree of amusement to a maximum.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a target apparatus of the character hereinafter described which will increase the skill and accuracy of aim on the part of the marksman.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and :arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary elevational view of the target apparatus embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View `of the same as taken from the left-hand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the same as viewed from the right-hand side of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4 4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially on line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 6 6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the circuit embodied in `our invention.

In the prior art devices it has been the common practice to arrange a target element for movement transversely of the target area and to arrange the target so that when a hit has been accomplished the target will be caused to drop from a vertical target position to a horizontal hit position. When such target apparatuses are employed, all that the marksman is required to do is to follow the movement of the target in an endeavor to effect a hit. Our invention provides an arrangement which will effect an erratic movement of the target While it is moving transversely of the target area to various positions with respect to the target area. Such an arrangement requires the marksman to constantly shift the line of sight on the target and makes it more diicult to hit the target, thereby requiring greater concentration and development of skill on the part of the marksman during the sighting operation.

To accomplish the objects of this invention, we provide on a mounting board 10 of any suitable material a pair of plates 11 arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to each other and extending laterally from the board 10.

Supported by the plates 11 and extending therebetween is a shaft 12. The shaft 12 in its major length is substantially rectangular in cross section and has reduced trunnions 13 which yare journalled in the lateral walls 14 and 14 of the plates 11.

On one end of the shaft 12 is mounted a disc 15' having connected thereto an overthrow spring 16 which has one end connected to a pin 1S carried by the adjacent plate 14. This spring 16 functions to urge oscillatory movement of the shaft 12 in one direction when moved in a manner hereinafter described.

The opposite end portion of the shaft has secured thereto a disc 19 to which is connected as at 20 a link 21, the opposite end portion of the link being connected as at 22 to an arm 23. The arm 23 is connected as at 25 to a plunger 26 of an electro-solenoid coil 24 carried by the side Wall .14.

Carried by the shaft 12 is a carriage 31 movable longitudinally of the shaft 12. This carriage has a support arm 32 to which a target element 33 is connected. rPhe target element 33 as shown, is in the form of a at plate having on its face a drawing of an animal or other character. The support arm 32 has a downwardly angled end portion 34 which is formed as an integral part of a disc 3S in turn connected to the carriage 31.

Extending between the walls 14 and 14 is a rod 36, the same being substantially circular in cross section. Mounted for movement longitudinally of the rod 36 is a sleeve 37 extending between spaced plates 38 fwhich extend upwardly on opposite sides of the inclined portion of the arm 32. Secured to the sleeve between the plates 38 is a depending arm 39, the lower end of which is bent inwardly and then upwardly as at 40 to embrace a nonconductive plate 41. The plate 41 is secured to the mounting plate 10 as at 42. At opposite ends of the plate 41 are conductor segments 43 and 43.

Also carried on the plate 41 is an L-shaped conductor bar 44. Spaced with respect to each other and within the area of the length of the bar 44 are contact segments 45.

The arm 39 has a pair of spaced apertures 46 formed therein. Mounted on these apertures 46 is a short sleeve 47. Projecting through the sleeves 47 are spring-urged contact fingers 49. One of the contact fingers 49 is adapted to be yieldably urged into engagement successively with the conductor segments 43 and the conductor bar 44. The other or lower contact finger is adapted to be yieldably urged into successive engagement with the contact segments 43 and 45, for reasons hereinafter more fully set forth.

The angled end portion 34 of the arm 32 in its posi- 4tion between the plates 38 will move the sleeve 37 and the parts supported thereby in opposite directions with respect to the rod 36. Such an arrangement permits the target supporting arm 33 to move from it normal vertical position as shown in FIG. l, .to a horizontal hit position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4.

Mounted on the plate 10 is a reversible motor 51. This motor includes a shaft 52 on which is mounted a pulley S3. Wound about the pulley 53 is the intermediate portion of a cable or cord S4 which is looped upon the shaft 52 as at 52. From the pulley 53 the opposite end portions of the cord extend through suitable guides 55 carried by the plate ltl and pass over pulleys 56 carried by the plate 1i). From the pulleys S6 the opposite end portions of the cord 54 are connected as at 56 to the fingers 49.

The arrangement is such that as the shaft 52 of the motor 51 is rotated, the opposite end portions of the cord wind in reverse directions upon the pulley 53, with the result that the carriage 31 is reciprocated longitudinally of the shaft 12, moving the target element 33 transversely of the target area.

A relay coil is indicated at 59 and controls the relay switches 59a, 59h, and 59e. The switch 59a is in circuit with a step-up coil 60 of the step-up switch D. The motor reversing coils are shown in the circuit at 27 and 3?. The coil 27 is in circuit with the contacts 64 arranged in alternate position with respect `to the contacts aos o, vos

64. The switch 5912 is in circuit with the motor reversing coil 27. The motor reversing coil 3S is in circuit with the contacts 64. In this circuit is arranged the motor reversing switch 59e. The coil 59 is connected in circuit with the contact bar 44 which has contact with one of the contacts 49 shown in FIG. 4, and diagrammatic'allyv illustrated in FIG. 7.

While the circuit connections between the contacts 45 and 57 are shown parallel it is to be understood that such connections need not be in parallel but may be staggered. Such an arrangement results in having the target element movement reverse at unexpected points in its travel.

When the sleeve 37 reaches the end of its travel in either direction with respect to the plate 41 a circuit will be completed to either the coil 27 or 39 (depending upon the end position of the sleeve 35) by engagement of the Contact finger 49 with the adjacent Contact segments 43 and 43 thus to reverse the motor when the target element has reached either end of the shaft 12. This return movement of the target element takes place should the motor be not reversed at some point between the ends of the range of movement of the target element.

When the switch 59a is closed by energization of coil 59 the step-up switch coil 6d will be energized to step up the step-up switch D. This resuits in the advance ot` the wiper finger 53 with respect to the contacts o4 and 64. The wiper inger 5S will also be advanced with respect to the contacts 57. The Contact between the wiper finger 63 and one of the contacts 64 and 64 results in energizing either one of the two coils Z7 and 30 so that the coil thus energized will etect actuation of the reversing switch of the motor 51 reversing the operation of such motor. When the wiper finger 5S is in contact with one of the contacts 57 through which a complete circuit through coil 59 has been established by reason of the contacts 49 being in Contact with the bar 44 and a contact connected in circuit with the contact 57, the coil 59 will be energized and close the switch 59a to energize the step-up switch coil 60' for reason hereinbefore set forth.

Assuming that the wiper inger r'53 is in contact with the fourth contact 57 from the left as viewed in FIG. 7, the motor lwill operate to move the target element to the right as viewed in FG. l, until the lower contact iinger 49 engages the fourth contact 45 as viewed from the left in FIG. 7. Thereupon the motor will be reversed and the target element will move in an opposite direction. At the beginning of that movement, should the wiper finger 58 engage the third contact as viewed from the left in FIG. 7 when the lower contact 49 engages the third contact 45 as viewed from the left in FIG. 7, the motor reversing relays will be energized and the motor reversed, resulting in reversing the movement of the target.

Summarizing the foregoing, synchronization of the contact ngers 49 with the wiper iinger 58, results in energizing the reversing circuit of the motor so that at any point in the movement of the carriage 31, the target element will be reciprocated upon the shaft i2, requiring the marltsman to constantly change his sighting position in his endeavor to effect a hit.

The disc 1S controls a switch 15 in circuit with an indicator (not shown) to indicate movement of the target element 33 to a hit position. Such switch when closed completes a circuit to the coil 24 to energize the latter so as to reset the target element from hit position to the position shown in FIG. l.

The power source for the circuit includes a conventional transformer T connected to a source of power by a plug P. In the form shown, the target is intended to be struck by a pellet or BB shot from an airgun or the like and be thus moved from its normal vertical position to a horizontal hit-indicating position. However, the invention is not to be limited to this particular form 0f means for causing the target to move to hit-indicating position.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that we have provided a novel arrangement for eiecting erratic movement of the target for purposes hereinbefore stated.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into elect, this is capable of variation and modilication without dcpartiug from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A target apparatus including (a) an elongated horizontally supported shaft,

(b) a carriage mounted on said shaft for reciprocal movement relative to the long axis thereof,

(c) a target member carried by and movable with the carriage,

(d) means for reciprocating said carriage relative to the long axis of said shaft,

(e) means for reversing the reciprocating means at either end of the movement of the carriage relative to said shaft,

(f) and means independent of said reversing means for reversing said reciprocating means to reverse the direction of movement of the carriage relative to the long axis of the shaft at one of several points between the ends of the movement of the carriage relative to said shaft,

(g) said last mentioned means including an electric circuit for said reciprocating means having a plurality of spaced contact segments, a contact bar comrnon to said segments, and contact means carried by said carriage and movable therewith for selectively connecting in circuit said contact segments with said contact bar.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the shaft is supported ror rocking movement about its long axis to permit the target to move from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, and means for rocking the shaft in a direction to return the target to said substantially vertical position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the reciprocating means is an electric motor having means operatively con necting the same to the target.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,668,675 Fey May 8, 1928 2,188,292 Hall et al. Jan. 23, 1940 2,494,210 Smith Ian. l0, 1950 2,959,138 Foster Nov. 8, 1960 

1. A TARGET APPARATUS INCLUDING (A) AN ELONGATED HORIZONTALLY SUPPORTED SHAFT (B) A CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE LONG AXIS THEREOF, (C) A TARGET MEMBER CARRIED BY AND MOVABLE WITH THE CARRIAGE, (D) MEANS FOR REVERSING THE RECIPROCATING MEANS AT THE LONG AXIS OF SAID SHAFT, (E) MEANS FOR REVERSING THE RECIPROCATING MEANS AT EITHER END OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT, (F) AND MEANS INDEPENDENT OF SAID REVERSING MEANS FOR REVERSING SAID RECIPROCATING MEANS TO REVERSE THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE RELATIVE TO THE LONG AXIS OF THE SHAFT AT ONE OF SEVERAL POINTS BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT, (G) SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT FOR SAID RECIPROCATING MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED CONTACT SEGMENTS, A CONTACT BAR COMMON TO SAID SEGMENTS, AND CONTACT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE AND MOVABLE THEREWITH FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING IN CIRCUIT SAID CONTACT SEGMENTS WITH SAID CONTACT BAR. 